Figs

The common fig (Ficus carica) is a species of flowering plant in the genus Ficus, native to the Middle East and western Asia. Having been cultivated for thousands of years, they are thought to be the first known instance of agriculture (subfossil figs dated about 9000 BC were found in a Neolithic village in the Jordan Valley).

Although known as a fruit, the fig is actually the infructescence or an ‘ingrowing’ flower of the tree, the small orifice in the middle of the fruit allows the specialized fig wasp to enter the fruit and pollinate the flower.

It grows wild in dry and sunny areas, with deep and fresh soil; also in rocky areas, from sea level to 1,700 meters. It prefers light and medium soils, requires well-drained soil, and can tolerate seasonal drought (by virtue of its aggressive root system), so the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean climate is particularly suitable for the plant.

The fruits were used by the Romans, among other things, to fatten geese for the production of a precursor of foie gras.

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Raisins

A raisin is a dried grape. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Canada the word “raisin” is reserved for the dark-coloured dried large grape, with “sultana” being a golden-coloured dried grape, and “currant” being a dried small Black Corinth grape.
Raisin in French refers to the fresh fruit; grappe (from which the English grape is derived) refers to the bunch (as in une grappe de raisins).
The cultivation of the domesticated grape began 6,000–8,000 years ago in the Near East. The earliest archaeological evidence for a dominant position of wine-making in human culture dates from 8,000 years ago in Georgia.
Yeast, occurs naturally on the skins of grapes, leading to the innovation of alcoholic drinks such as wine. The earliest known production occurred around 8,000 years ago in Georgia.

Dates

Dates are the fruit of the Phoenix dactylifera (date palm) which can grow to 20-25 metres high.

Dates have been cultivated for thousands of years – a staple of the Middle East and the Indus Valley (now Pakistan). They are believed to have originated in Iraq as early as 4000 BCE, although archaeological evidence shows date cultivation in eastern Arabia in 6000 BCE. The Ancient Egyptians ate the fruit and made date wine. There is also evidence of date cultivation in Mehrgarh a Neolithic civilization in western Pakistan, around 7000 BCE.

The fruit’s English name comes from the Greek word for “finger,” dáktulos, because of the fruit’s elongated shape